The Secret Shot

Hands up if you like surprises? Hands up if you like travelling? Hands up if you’ve got three hands?

I’m constantly trying to inject creativity into TrailofAnts.com. I do it because I love the genre, and while I do receive some wonderfully humbling comments about my writing, I have also accepted that if I am to grow, my content needs to diversify.

The Secret Photo

The photo you’re about to see is neither shocking, nor particularly striking. It was taken on a footbridge in George Town, Penang, during a mighty downpour. I thought twice about taking the photograph, so when you look at it, it’s worth considering if you would have. Put yourself in my shoes.

I’d also like you to notice the graffiti; this was the spark which led me to take the photo, and I believe it compliments the overall energy of the image.

Behind the Scenes

The reason I hesitated taking the photo, wasn’t just because the photo shows an innocent young boy.

He arrived on the bridge with a young Indian man, perhaps in his late teens. They were obviously homeless and sheltering from the rain. I felt that by taking the photo — and then wandering off — I was letting him down somehow.

Perhaps I did?

And then there’s the real reason. Look closely at what this kid is wearing. It’s disgusting that a child should be made to wear a Manchester United shirt. If it were an Arsenal shirt, he would have looked smart and respectable, but whoever bought him this shirt was quite obviously intending to ridicule him.

Poor chap.

I’m curious to know whether the hidden photo behaves itself on your smart phones and in your RSS readers. My hunch is that it won’t work, in which case I hastily apologise. Perhaps go retro and visit the original post on a computer.

How was that for you? Was it a welcome twist, or a woeful flop? You can be completely honest with me, I take criticism well. I don’t cry or stamp my feet. Much. Finally, tell me, how would approach taking this photograph?

I love the creative ways you’re branching out – it’s interesting to see one stretch…and it give me inspiration to do the same (in a very small way).
Thank you for the secret photo…I liked hearing your thoughts before I looked and then your feelings around it after I saw the image. Although I subscribe to RSS, I always read content on the sites I visit – I like to get the whole feel when I read someones words. I went back to check the RSS though and the secret photo did work there..although not nearly as elegantly.
Cheers!

Inspiration is officially is a key target of TrailofAnts.com, Gillian, so I’m really pleased to receive your comments. Thank you, and thanks also for taking the time to check it out in your reader. That’s good to know — I don’t want the secret inadvertently slipping out!

Bed bugs? Are you getting biettn all over? are there very many under your mattress?That or its a cucumber beetle. Their trying to eat the cucumber plants growing under your bed.Next time include a picture.

It’s not often I take some new information away from renaidg an informational article. I’m sure that’s because most writers tend to write the same thing over and over. You have presented new, fresh ideas.

Ant,
We already enjoy reading your posts, and I love this new secret photo idea. I like that you explained the photo beforehand, and your thoughs and feelings about it too. I enjoyed coming up with my own ‘photo’ in my head and then actually seeing the real one. love this new creativity from you!

The hidden photo doesn’t work in my RSS, but it works pretty fine here. As for taking pics of kids, I’m generally uneasy about it. I’m uneasy about taking pics of people, I usually ask my girlfriend to take some, if there are masses of people. How many times I see someone on the photo (later when I put them on my laptop) giving me a very unpleasant look. Makes me feel I was impolite. I probably wouldn’t the photo above and post it online for a personal reason.

16ae6351c7I have been exploring for a liltte for any high quality articles or blog posts in this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this site. Studying this information So ic2a1c2a6m satisfied to express that I’ve an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I so much indisputably will make sure to do not disregard this website and give it a look regularly. 151

But yeah Many thanks for taikng the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and really like learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.

The content that I tilycalpy read online is nothing like what you have written in this article. Your work is obviously very well-researched, outlined and written. Please continue to write this kind of unique content.

Hi Ant, I stumbled over here after reading a post on Todd’s Wanderings. Your site is .. refreshing. The writing is brilliant and I appreciate your efforts to make your a blog an original, unique experience. Subscribed and look forward to more. B well, Phil

Thanks Phil, welcome to TrailofAnts.com. Todd had some really kind things to say, I was very pleased to receive his acclamation. Looking forward to hearing more from you over the coming months, if you have any feedback, you’re welcome to share it with me through the comments or contact box in the right hand side bar.

This information has ecxeeded my expectations in content and format. It’s interesting, well-written and just plain smart. It’s also clear enough to understand and it reads well. Thank you your devotion to really good writing.

You have represented your ideas in an oangiirl, interesting and intelligent manner. Your content is great and thought-provoking in my opinion. I agree with your ideas for the most part. Your work is very impressive.

I love your continued experimentation in presenting material with a fresh twist, and always enjoy your style of writing…

But I wouldn’t have published this photo, particularly after you took the turn to mock ~
If it were a picture of you at this age it would be totally acceptable as we could all have had a little titter at your expense – It would be with your permission that we laugh ‘with you’ (not at you), and we could all collectively agree what moronic relatives you must have to give you yet another Manchester United shirt to add to your bulging collection!

But displaying this poor boy’s plight of being devoid of any homely comfort or care, other than what he can supply to himself, and then mock what most likely is his sole treasured, hard fought for possession, a western shirt…

I think you not only let the kid down with this one, but also yourself.
(Sorry Ant, but someone’s got to say it

Fair point, Linda. I take that on board. In retrospect, I should of let the humour slide, and taken a more empathetic point of view.

Now I’ve had time to reflect, I think if I’d had a conversation with the boy — even just a few fleeting seconds — I wouldn’t have posted it in the same tone. I believe I still would post it, but perhaps taking his point of view.

It’s a very wise answer of Mr/s Snout.The first ftleirity test commonly performed in order to diagnose the cause of male infertility is the semen analysis test. Any problems affecting sperm shape (morphology), sperm movement (motility), or sperm count will require a semen analysis test. The cost of infertility tests can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the sophistication of the required ftleirity test.Good luck.

Im taking plenty of photos in Kerala at the moment and get great pleasure from the secret pictures in the crowds, giving a more real insight to street life here. Bold and brave is the way to go! Good on you- It’s all about publicity!

Yeah I read back afterwards and can see how my little (otherwise very funny) contribution could have been taken the wrong way. Now its hilarity can shine.
I wouldn’t worry about the preachers although I can see why you might have been taken aback by the response. Your application of humour to situations does not preclude thoughtfulness or ethics. And you are one of the few to ask questions rather than busy yourself manufacturing half baked answers. That is highly ethical.

Be careful tikang medical advice from Yahoo Answers.Some of the answers to your last question were bizarre, especially the one about masturbation causing torsion of the testis.One testis larger than the other may be a result of mumps, but you should seek proper medical advice about this in your case.Sperm count tests involve examining a fresh semen sample. They are not expensive as tests go, but obviously require some privacy to produce. Talk to your doctor about this.

It seems obvious that there are those that look through curiosity and those that look then feel guilty for looking, realising they feel helpless and quite possibly ashamed for looking. Without images like these how can poverty, disease or any manner of mis-fortune be measured against what we have in a thriving modern society. Awarness is the message here and it works well. It’s bold, real and in your face- just as it should be!

There should be more REAL blog images on the www than the glossy “ooo look at those mountians or monkey” images that we are ALL guilty of taking whilst ignoring the realism of what is really going on around us while we tramp around the world blindly oblivious.
Now, it’s not blogging…but it is real travel journalism!
Well done.

To me this photo is striking in that I feel like there is so much sadness and disappointment in a boy that has barely stepped into life. Other than that, I think I would have also taken the photo, though also thinking twice…:) You know, there is something beautiful about sadness so…it’s a beautiful picture with a paradoxic sad effect.

I agree, thanks for your insightful comment. Emotion is something very hard to capture; be it elation, or deflation.

***

If you don’t mind, the next time you leave a comment would you please consider using your name as oppose to your website’s. I understand why you might need to do this, but similarly me and my readers would appreciate it.

For the record, I usually delete comments which use these tactics, but as your comment is a thousand times more relevant to the topic, and is obviously written by a human (rather than a bot), I’ve let it slide.

Ant, I am finally catching up on the last two months of blog posts . . . the holidays were crazy plus we were doing our site redesign and blah blah blah. In any event, I love your creative posts . . . I really do — especially the 10 misused words. The secret photo isn’t one of my favorites but I like the idea nonetheless. Here is my one problem with your site, though: you don’t post enough! Seriously. Where have you been?

Okay, onto the photo. I don’t post shots like this because I worry about posting pictures of children who are not aware of the photo. We post photos of children only when the parents are near the kids and see us taking the picture (and, ideally, we ask their permission before taking the picture usually by pointing and mimicking). More often than not, the parents are delighted that we’re taking the picture but on a few occasions, they have shook their head and said no, and then we haven’t taken the picture.

Thanks as always, Akila. I don’t post enough, you’re absolutely right! Unfortunately I have to prioritise paid work over my site. But in truth, there have been a few other issues behind the curtains which have stalled posts. I’m hoping to get back on track soon.

I LOVE your redesign. Well done, I can see a lot of work has gone into that.

Thanks also for your point of view on the picture of the young Penangite. It’s interesting to hear other people’s points of view on what is a sensitive subject.

Thank you on your compliment! We are really happy with the redesign, as well.

I completely understand about the prioritizing paid work and such. As more people hire me to write, I find myself struggling to keep our blog going on a consistent basis. I wish there was a way to add extra hours in every day so that I could still get enough sleep!

I must confess… this is the first time I’ve had a proper look through your site, but your posts are just genius! This one made me laugh especially hard… the three hand joke was awesome. I agree about the Manchester United shirt too… should have been Liverpool